Ben Shapiro Faces Twitter Wrath For Slamming Trump’s Victory Claim

Conservative columnist Ben Shapiro is facing sharp criticism, and some praise, for denouncing President Donald Trump’s premature claim of victory in the U.S. presidential election.

“No, Trump has not already won the election, and it is deeply irresponsible for him to say he has,” Shapiro stated in a tweet at 2:31 a.m. EST Wednesday. 

The latest election results show former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has an advantage in the Electoral College tally, though Trump is following close behind. Key battleground states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania were still counting the votes as of Wednesday morning and, with the flood of mail-in and absentee ballots, counting could take some time.

Nevertheless, Trump claimed victory early on Wednesday, but also said, without citing evidence, there was “fraud” in the race. He later vowed to take the contest to the Supreme Court because “we want all voting to stop.”

On social media, Shapiro, who said he would vote for Trump this election cycle, is now the target of criticism from friends and foes alike following his post. Supporters are crying foul over his comment because some of the ballot counting was halted overnight, suggesting that backed Trump’s claims of fraud. Another thread in the heavily-trending issue on Twitter said the delayed results were a “nightmare,” and even a conservative like Shapiro “gets it.”

Trump made confusing statements early Wednesday, saying counts should continue in Arizona, which some media outlets called for Biden, but not in the states where he is predicted to have won, such as Florida.

No election officials have declared a winner. No publication has either. Biden currently has 238 votes in the Electoral College to Trump’s 213, with 87 votes outstanding. The winner needs 270 votes.

Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillion said in a statement quoted by online news site The Hill that it was irresponsible for the president to suggest the Supreme Court would intervene to stop tallying the votes.

“The counting will not stop. It will continue until every duly cast vote is counted. Because that is what our laws — the laws that protect every Americans’ constitutional right to vote — require,” the statement read.

Ben Shapiro at the “Ben Shapiro Town Hall” panel during Politicon at Pasadena Convention Center on July 30, 2017, in Pasadena, California. Photo: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for Politicon